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PHILADELPHIA — The roars of Broad Street will be put to the test in this Home Run Derby.

How much does homefield advantage matter? We’ll surely find out Monday, July 13, when Philadelphia Phillies superstars Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber lead an eight-man field into the 2026 version of this made-for-TV spectacular.

Harper and Schwarber know each other quite well in this context: It was Harper defeating Schwarber in the finals of the 2018 Derby at Nationals Park, Harper’s final season in Washington. This time, it might be Schwarber with the upper hand, given the major league-high 88 home runs he’s spanked since the start of the 2025 season.

Who raises the trophy? USA TODAY Sports breaks down the eight contenders for Derby glory:

1. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

Look, home-field advantage does matter, given the knowledge of your own yard’s nooks and crannies. And Citizens Bank Park has its share – though very hitter friendly, there are a few gaps and straightaways you wanna stay away from. It’s an easy bet to say Schwarber has more power, local knowledge and solid Derby experience to top this field.

2. Bryce Harper, Phillies

We originally had Harper slotted third, but that was before Harper revealed his Derby pitcher: Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel. Dino’s not just a father of back-to-back Brewers babies; he’s also a batting practice and Derby pitching wizard.

Ebel guided Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero to the title, and he did so again two years ago for Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. The man understands pacing and timing and knows how to spot it. While Harper claimed he’d only swing off his dad – his pitcher for the dramatic 2018 title over Schwarber – we’re saying Ebel is an even better match.

3. Junior Caminero, Rays

Possibly the only man in the field who can prevent a Philly championship. Caminero was just 22 years old a year ago, when he nearly became the youngest player to win a Derby. Alas, he ran out of gas in the finals, mustering 15 homers to fall to Cal Raleigh.

He did manage 44 home runs, averaging 435 feet in distance (thank you, super balls), including 21 in the first round. And nobody comes in hotter, as Caminero slugged 13 homers in the last 19 games of the first half.

4. Jac Caglianone, Royals

Perhaps someone will emerge and surprise us all, but the drop-off from three to four in this field feels pretty massive. While Caglianone has just 14 homers, the 6-4, 250-pound second-year slugger has perhaps the most raw power this side of Schwarber. Getting to it in games is always the last step for a young power hitter, but nothing’s stopping Cags from putting on a show here.

5. Munetaka Murakami, White Sox

You cannot downplay the 20 home runs Murakami hit in his first 55 major league games, including the first three of his career. It’s probably the most underplayed feat of this first half, given the significant doubts and contact worries that accompanied Murakami to Japan.

Alas, he suffered a hamstring injury shortly thereafter, missing six weeks and returning just three days ago. It’s Murakami’s first big-league season and his first All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, and he hasn’t hit a home run that counts since May 28. A lot for one dude to handle – but it will be fascinating to see him take to the spotlight.

6. Ben Rice, Yankees

Don’t look now, but this dude has overtaken Caminero for second in the AL in home runs, smashing 29 during a first half in which the Yankees have aimed to stay afloat without Aaron Judge. His lefty stroke would seem tailored for the cozy right field corner at Citizens Bank, and he’s aiming to become the first Yankee to take home the Derby title since Judge in 2017.

Yet this is an entirely different sea he’s swimming in here and like Murakami, this will be his first exposure to the All-Star rigamarole. A nice dark horse pick, but will see if he has the juice to hang.

7. Willson Contreras, Red Sox

Hey, why not? Now 34, Contreras may not get too many more cracks at the All-Star Game, so might as well cross of the Derby on his career to-do list.

Contreras has ripped 20 homers this year, though his career high is just 24, established when he was 27 years old in 2019. Can Contreras outkick the back of his baseball card?

8. Jordan Walker, Cardinals

Fun fact: Walker is more than a year older than Caminero, even as he seems like the new guy on the block in this group. Yet it took four tries for Walker to stick in the majors, making him one of the more compelling stories among the group of All-Stars.

He scorched 22 first-half homers and leads the majors with 74 RBIs. Yet the key to the Derby is knowing thyself and applying your strengths to this format. Walker's absolutely figured it out on the field, but performing under this spotlight is a different animal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB Home Run Derby power rankings: Will Phillies stars reign in Philly?

There has not been a hometown champion for the MLB Home Run Derby since Bryce Harper won it in 2018 as a member of the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Will that drought come to an end this year? By Harper himself?

Harper, in his eighth season with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies DH who is the MLB home run leader, will certainly look to do that for the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 11. But six other hitters are looking to take home the trophy and chain themselves.

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday.

REQUIRED READING: Shohei Ohtani injury costs Dodgers star MLB All-Star Game appearance

The Home Run Derby will have a slightly different look this season, as MLB changed the format of the event. There will no longer be a time clock for the eight hitters to compete under, and instead will have a finite number of swings to take in each round.

Here's what to know:

Where to watch 2026 MLB Home Run Derby today?

• Streaming option: Netflix

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby will not be broadcast over linear or national television. Instead, the event will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. Monday's event is the first of three consecutive years that it will be streamed exclusively on Netflix.

MLB Home Run Derby start time today

• Date: Monday, July 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

2026 MLB Home Run Derby field

Below is a look at the full 2026 MLB Home Run Derby field:

• Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays 3B
• Ben Rice, New York Yankees 1B
• Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals 1B
• Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox 1B
• Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals RF
• Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies 1B
• Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies DH
• Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox 1B

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where to watch 2026 MLB Home Run Derby tonight: Time, TV channel, streaming

The Home Run Derby is here!

In just a few hours, the ever-so-cinematic and ruckus night of the MLB All-Star Week festivities that showcases some of the top power hitters in the league will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The field includes some of the top home run hitters in the league, including Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, who is tied for the fourth most home runs in the majors and finished as the runner-up in the event last season to Cal Raleigh, and New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice.

MLB Home Run Derby Field: Who will participate in 2026 MLB All-Star Event? Players who will, won't hit in Philly

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby will have a new look to it for the first time in over a decade, and that isn't just implying the fact that Netflix will exclusively broadcast the event on its streaming service. MLB has also changed up the format of the event.

Here's everything to know about the format for the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby and more:

2026 MLB Home Run Derby rules, format explained

For the first time since 2015, the MLB Home Run Derby will have a new format. The 2026 edition of the Home Run Derby will no longer have the time clock that was added to the event in 2015, and instead will go back to a pre-2015-esque look where hitters will have a finite number of swings to take.

The new format includes 20 swings in the first round, followed by 15 swings in both the semifinals and finals for advancing hitters. Should a hitter add a home run on swing No. 20, or the final swing of a round, they'll continue swinging until they don't hit a home run, i.e., until they record an "out."

As was the case in the last two seasons, those who have the top four home run totals from the first round will advance to the semifinals (second round), where they’ll then be put into a bracket and seeded based on their home run totals from the first round and go head-to-head to determine the two finalists.

REQUIRED READING: Yankees' Ben Rice to get his Home Run Derby dream with dad pitching

2026 MLB Home Run Derby tiebreakers

Should there be a tie in the field following the first round, home run distance will serve as the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker for the second round and finals will be a three-swing swing-off.

What are the changes to the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?

The biggest change to the MLB Home Run Derby this year is the removal of the time clock that the eight hitters would be restricted to. There won't be any additional rounds of swings given as well, which had been given in the past based on home run distance and other qualifications.

How many people are in the MLB Home Run Derby?

The MLB Home Run Derby consists of eight hitters. Click here to view the 2026 Home Run Derby field.

2026 MLB Home Run Derby: Time, TV channel, streaming options

• Date: Monday, July 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
• Streaming option: Netflix

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. It will not be broadcast on television. Instead, it will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, with the play-by-play being handled by Matt Vasgersian and analysis coming Barry Bonds, CC Sabathia, Hunter Pence and Anthony Rizzo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB Home Run Derby rules explained: New format changes debut in 2026

After a terrible stretch of play in late June/early July, the Yankees closed out their first half on a high note by sweeping the Nationals. It wasn’t without stress, as it took late inning comebacks against a Nats bullpen that just had nothing going for it to come away with all three of their wins, but considering how down bad this team was for even a single win a week ago no one is complaining. Riding off the coattails of their split with the Rays, the sweep brought New York to a very decent 5-2 record on the road trip entering the All-Star break, and they sit three games behind first place. That’s still entirely within their reach, but they’ll need a bit of help on top of them keeping this good momentum going once they return to the field.

In the meantime though, it’s time to celebrate the best accomplishments of the team with their All-Star representatives, and the festivities begin later tonight with the Home Run Derby. Ben Rice will be among the participants, and we’ll have an open thread for the event itself up much like our usual game threads. Before that, we open our day with a recap of the MLB Draft as Michael gives his thoughts on the 2026 class the Yankees now have waiting in the wings. Matt covers the Rivalry Roundup featuring a Rays loss to bring the AL East race a game closer, Josh reminisces on DJ LeMahieu’s pair of incredible and ill-advised contracts and the production he brought with them as his birthday falls on today, and Jeremy mulls over the options that the Reds could provide in a potential trade. Later in the day, I’ll be opening up the mailbag for more of your questions, and then I’ll also recap the Derby when all is said and done.

Today’s Matchup:

All-Star Home Run Derby

Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

Streaming: Netflix

Venue: Citizen’s Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Questions/Prompts:

1. How far will Ben Rice make it in the Derby? Surely he has a better showing than Jazz Chisholm Jr. had last year, right?

2. Was John Schneider out of line for choosing his own guy in Dylan Cease as the All-Star Game starter before Cam Schlittler ruled himself out?

Indianapolis Indians 5, Toledo Mud Hens 0 (box)

Toledo managed just one hit in the series finale, losing 5-0 and finishing the week 2-4.

Indianapolis’ Connor Wietgrefe retired the first 13 batters he faced. Brett Callahan broke up the perfect game with a one-out double in the fifth. He made it to third after tagging on a Jace Jung flyout but never scored. \

Just one hit for Toledo today in a 5-0 loss to Indianapolis – this 5th inning hustle double from Brett Callahan. pic.twitter.com/P5fgjhUzjX

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 12, 2026

Wietgrefe stayed in through the eighth and didn’t allow another baserunner. His replacement, Landon Tomkins, walked the first batter he faced, Cal Stevenson, before retiring the next three batters.

Sawyer Gipson-Long took the loss for the Mud Hens after allowing five runs (four earned) over as many innings. He broke down in the second, hitting two batters and giving up an RBI single with two outs. A wild pitch put both runners still on base in scoring position, but they jogged home on a P.J. Hilson home run — his first with the Indians.

An error by Stevenson at first base allowed Jhostynxon Garcia to score from first. That’s the unearned run for SGL. At least he retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.

The bullpen was actually good, throwing three perfect innings with a combined six strikeouts. Yilbert Diaz strukc out the side in the sixth, Brennan Hanifee went 1-2-3 in the seventh and Enmanuel De Jesus had a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 eighth. None of Toledo’s four pitchers allowed a walk, either.

Clark: 0-4, 2 K

Diaz: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Gipson-Long (L, 2-4): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR

Coming Up Next: Toledo returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-gameseries at home against the Gwinnett Stripers.

(F/10) Erie SeaWolves 3, Harrisburg Senators 2 (box)

Erie ended the series against Harrisburg tied with a 3-2 win that needed extra innings to decide.

Justice Bigbie was the hero in the 10th, singling home Viandel Pena for the win. Pena wasn’t the automatic runner on second to start the inning, though. That was Patrick Lee, who got caught in a pickle between third and home while trying to score on a ball back to the mound. Bigbie was lucky to get up, too, because Seth Stephenson needed an error to reach base before him. Fortunately, it all worked out in the end.

🚨🌔Moon Mammoths Walk-Off Win🦣🚨

Justice Bigbie lines a 2-out single to center to score Viandel Pena and give Erie a 3-2 win. @ZachSurdenik and @BurgessLuke03 on the call. pic.twitter.com/rHN4WNi6nk

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 12, 2026

But how did we get to extras?

Erie led 2-1 from the fifth inning into the ninth. Tanner Kohlhepp blew the save in the weirdest way possible. Johnathon Thomas tapped a ground ball to third with Maxwell Romero Jr. on second. Romero ran straight to the bag while E.J. Exposito waited for the ball to get to him. Exposito was standing next to the bag and in the basepath, so Romero had no choice but to run into him, albeit softly.

The ball got by Exposito because he was physically pushed out of position, and Romero charged home as Max Burt went to collect it where the grass meets the dirt. The throw would have gotten to home just in time, but it went straight into Romero’s legs. Safe. Truly bizarre stuff.

SeaWolves manager Tony Cappuccilli argued, but the umpires didn’t overturn the call after a brief meeting. He stormed back out and got tossed before crossing the third-base line.

Compared to all of that action, the rest of the game was relatively boring.

Both teams scored in the first. Harrisburg got Devin Fitz-Gerald home on a bases-loaded single. Branden Boissiere tried to score as well, but Seth Stephenson gunned him out at home from center field.

Erie responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a first-and-third play where the runner got stuck in a pickle, allowing the runner on third to score. It’s a good idea when Stephenson is the guy on third, even if it was unintentional.

The only other run in the game was an RBI single from Pena in the fifth. Patrick Lee set up the scoring opportunity with a double two batters prior.

It was a good day for the pitching staff. Max Alba went 3.2 innings, allowing just the one run on three hits and three walks while striking out three. Trevin Michael got the next four out and was in line for the win while Johan Simon, Yoniel Curet and Wandisson Charles recorded inning-long holds without any trouble. Kohlhepp ended up getting the win, pitching the 10th.

Simon was the best of the bunch despite a walk. He struck out the side, and Charles had a pair of strikeouts.

Bigbie: 1-5, RBI, K

Lee: 1-4, 2B (1), R

Kohlhepp (W, 5-2)(BS, 1): 2.0 IP, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: Erie returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-game series on the road against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Fort Wayne TinCaps 9, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)

Despite a 9-1 trouncing on Sunday, the West Michigan Whitecaps were the only Tigers affiliate to win a series this week, taking things 4-2 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Still, this was an ugly loss. Only five hits for the offense, and none of them were particularly loud. Stephen Hrustich had the only extra-base hit, a double in the ninth when the ‘Caps already trailed by eight runs. Hrustich had a single in the second, too, for the only multi-hit day in the lineup.

The lone run scored in the sixth on a double play off the bat of Bryce Rainer. At that point, it was still 3-1 and in between three-run homers from Fort Wayne. Rayner Castillo allowed the first but managed to get through five innings.

Preston Howey gave up the second in the seventh and was responsible for another run in the eighth after giving up a leadoff walk. CJ Weins got the rest of the eighth, but allowed two runs to score on three straight hits. Colin Fields got through the ninth just fine despite two hits.

Rainer: 0-3, BB, K

Hrustich: 2-3, 2B (2), BB

Castillo (L, 1-7): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR

Coming Up Next: West Michigan returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-game series on the road against the Great Lakes Loons.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 9, Dunedin Blue Jays 4 (box)

Lakeland beat Dunedin 9-4 on Sunday to finish the series tied at three games apiece.

Caleb Leys went two scoreless innings, walking one batter and striking out none. The Flying Tigers’ offense gave him an early lead to work with, though, scoring a pair in the top of the first. Jordan Yost walked and stole second. Jude Warwick drove him in with a double. Warwick stole third and came home on a bad throw from the catcher.

Dunedin made thing interesting with runs in the third and fourth off Lakeland’s bullpen. Alistair Tanner didn’t have very good command, but there might be a reason for that. He threw just 13 pitches, walking the leadoff man and hitting another batter, before leaving the game with an apparent injury. It doesn’t look great.

RHP Ali Tanner just returned from the IL today, but he leaves after 13 pitches with an apparent injury. Fastball velocity dipped noticeably against the final batter he faced. pic.twitter.com/cpKQI4Bb0R

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 12, 2026

Jose Guzman took over for Tanner and induced a sac fly for the run to score. He worked through the fourth, giving up his own run in the latter frame he pitched. Still, Guzman takes home the win because Lakeland managed to score a third run in the fourth to maintain the lead throughout the game.

The big inning was the sixth for the offense. Nick Dumesnil doubled to score Edian Espinal, Jesus Pinto walked, and both moved up a base on a groundout. Hunter Dobbins drove both of them in with a grounder through the right side. Zach MacDonald had his own single to the right side, and Beau Ankeney reached on an error that allowed Dobbins to score.

Connor Fenlong got his first hold with Lakeland, working four innings. He was really good for the first three frames, but a single and a homer put two runs on his final line. Fenlong had two walks and some wild pitches, so it’s not all peaches and roses, but it was enough.

Lakeland got those runs back, though, scoring in the eighth and ninth. Dobbins had his third hit and fourth RBI of the day, driving in Carson Rucker, and Jesus Pinto brought Warwick home in the final inning. Donye Evans closed it out, working around a leadoff base hit.

Yost: 0-4, R, BB, 2 K

Warwick: 3-5, 2B (16), 2 R, RBI

Dobbins: 3-5, R, 4 RBI, K

Fenlong (H, 1): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR

Coming Up Next: Lakeland returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-game series on the road against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

It's break time, and look what we have here across Major League Baseball: Five relatively red-hot divisional races.

Four divisions are either tied or separated by no more than three games as the All-Star break mercifully arrives. The NL Central features a five-game bulge, but it's almost certain the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers will extend their drama long into September. As for the NL West? Well, the Los Angeles Dodgers can pulverize the tension out of anything, holding a 12 ½ game lead.

And then there's the AL Central home to the tightest race of all and the biggest surprise.

The Chicago White Sox roared into the break, sweeping the Athletics back to Yolo County by a combined score of 24-2 and staying in lockstep with the Cleveland Guardians atop the division. It's a far cry from their 32-65 mark at the break last year, to say nothing of their 27-71 mark on their way to a record 121 losses in 2024.

As the White Sox climb to No. 10 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings, the dreams are only getting bigger and better.

"In our heads," White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery told reporters, "we just are like, ‘How are we not going to be a playoff team if we just play like we are playing right now?’”

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Just an absolute death grip on the division - and the entire National League.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

• Glorious first half ends with a thud: Swept at Pittsburgh, and the Miz taking a little siesta.

3. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

• Something old: Evan Longoria's No. 3 retired. Something new: Catcher Nathan Flewelling named Futures Game MVP.

4. Atlanta Braves (-)

• Matt Olson hits the break with 25 homers, but just six in his last 27 games.

5. New York Yankees (-)

• They chug into the break off their seventh sweep of the year, all three via comeback.

6. Chicago Cubs (+1)

• PCA = MVP, maybe. We were also saying this exactly one year ago.

7. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)

• Zack Wheeler joins Vance Worley among group of Phillies to start 10-1.

8. Miami Marlins (-)

• Will they add at the deadline? Keeping Sandy Alcantara already a nice W.

9. Chicago White Sox (+1)

• Tristan Peters hits for cycle, then added to All-Star team.

10. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

• Lauded for their draft, buttressed by Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns falling to them with second pick.

11. Cleveland Guardians (-)

• Heating up again? Their sweep at Miami is their first since May 21.

12. Pittsburgh Pirates (+2)

• They lose Konnor Griffin, gain Jacob Gonzalez and finish half with sweep of Brewers.

13. Texas Rangers (+2)

• MVP of the first half? Perhaps reliever Jacob Latz.

14. Seattle Mariners (-2)

• X-rays negative on Emerson Hancock's hand - as Kade Anderson waits patiently.

15. Washington Nationals (-2)

• Sweep by Yankees likely douses any thought of adding this month.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)

• Dodgers don't seem catchable. How much do you invest in an eight-way wild card derby?

17. San Diego Padres (-1)

• They draft a high school pitcher first for the sixth time in 10 years.

18. Minnesota Twins (+1)

• Um, guess who's tied for the third wild card in AL?

19. Boston Red Sox (+3)

• Within two games of .500 for first time since March 30.

20. Houston Astros (-2)

• Starting pitching still in disarray.

21. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

• Finally win four games in a row - right into the break.

22. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

• Defending AL champs a last-place team entering break.

23. Detroit Tigers (+1)

• Jack Flaherty pitching like he wants to make sure Tarik Skubal sticks around.

24. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

• Now 6-22 against NL Central opponents.

25. Athletics (-)

• That's nine losses in a row, the first eight without holding a lead, dating back to the Dodgers visiting Yolo County on July 1.

26. San Francisco Giants (+1)

• Luis Arraez all set to get his flowers at the All-Star Game, deservedly.

27. New York Mets (-1)

• Swept by the Red Sox even as Boston had one plane tied behind its back.

28. Colorado Rockies (+2)

• Paul DePodesta goes back to college on draft day.

29. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

• Drafting a two-way prep player is best sign yet the Perry Minasian era is over.

30. Kansas City Royals (-1)

• Only the Athletics have a worse run differential than these guys' minus-88.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: White Sox are story of the first half as playoff races tighten

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Those hoping to see Cam Schlittler pitch in the All-Star Game are likely to be disappointed. While maintaining that he will be “ready if they need me,” Schlittler intends to use the break for the Midsummer Classic to rest for an all important push in the second half. Interestingly, AL team manager John Schneider announced that he was planning to pick his own pitcher with the Blue Jays, Dylan Cease, to start the game for the AL despite Schlittler’s superior first half and Schlittler’s initial willingness to pitch on what would have been a between-starts bullpen day. Schlittler also admitted that he did not want to overextend himself by ramping up to game-level effort and potentially risk a sluggish recovery for his first start out of the break.

ESPN: The Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Nationals to end the first half with the wind in their sails, and they did so in historic fashion. They overcame an eighth-inning or later deficit in all three wins for the first time in franchise history since May 19-21, 1910, playing as the Highlanders and sweeping the Cleveland Naps. They won their last four games before the break to cap off a 5-2 road trip, coming just in time after their worst stretch of the season, to sit three games behind the Rays for first.

MLB.com | Jared Greenspan: There’s a new Pettitte in pinstripes. In the eighth round of the 2026 Draft on Sunday, the Yankees selected Luke Pettitte with the 248th pick out of Dallas Baptist University. The son of Andy Pettitte, Luke began as a right-handed pitcher who posted a 3.19 ERA in 17 games before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Unable to pitch his junior season, Pettitte became a full-time DH and slashed .337/.403/.693 with 16 home runs and 48 RBI.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees have finalized their 2026 MLB Draft class, with a potential 20 new faces joining the organization. They went with a pair of left-handed pitchers for their first two picks, and their first pick, Hunter Dietz, is considered by many evaluators to be the best left-handed pitcher in the Draft. They rounded out their first day of picks with a catcher and an outfielder, and on the whole went with a balanced approach, selecting eight pitchers and 12 position players and 16 college players versus four out of high school.

The Colorado Rockies are a team in the midst of a rebuild. With this in mind, the staff at Purple Row thought it would be useful to revisit the “State of the Position” series that we ran in March to see where things stand. We’ve asked authors of the spring articles to re-evaluate their earlier remarks with an eye toward the August 3 trade deadline. 

(All numbers are current as of July 11, 2026.)

---

What I said in March

Four months ago, here’s what I wrote:

Purple Row’s “State of the Position” series is largely evaluative: Where are the Rockies now compared to where they ended the previous season, and how are they positioned going forward?

Right now, the answer is that we don’t know.

The signs seem to be positive: Players are enthusiastic about what’s happening; we see more examples of technology, analytics, and communication in action; and some of the too-early stats are promising. Still, spring training numbers mean nothing.

We know more now, so let’s consider what we’ve learned since president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes took the helm of the Colorado Rockies.

(I realize the front office rebuild was considerably more extensive than these two executives. However, the focus here will be on DePodesta and Byrnes.)

What the evaluative criteria are

One of the things that irritates me is a tendency among sportswriters to randomly assign grades — it’s something I’ve complained about extensively. Creating a fair assessment instrument first requires creating clear criteria, so here are mine for this evaluation:

• Infrastructure building
• Acquisitions
• Communication

The first one, we simply cannot evaluate. We don’t know what the Rockies are doing behind the scenes, both in terms of building an effective analytics system and ensuring clear communication throughout their MiLB system, Moreover, they are unlikely to tell us since this is information organizations do not share. But let’s assume the Rockies are making progress on that front. We certainly know they are trying a lot of new things this season. Hopefully in October, DePodesta will give fans a better sense of what they have learned.

With the other two criteria, however, we can do some systematic evaluation.

Where the Rockies are now

Acquisitions — The draft

Purple Row spent last weekend covering the Rockies MLB draft moves, and although it’s too soon to know how any of this will play out, here’s what we know so far.

Acquisitions — Free agent signings & trades

DePodesta said from the beginning that in 2026, one goal was to “raise the floor,” and part of that strategy involved signing more (and better) free agents. Here’s how those players have done so far.

MLB signings

• Willi Castro (2 years @ $12.8 million) — .260/.331/.378; 0.2 fWAR
• Michael Lorenzen (1 years @ $8 million) — 6.46 ERA in 92.0 IP; 0.9 fWAR
• Jose Quintana (1 year @ $6 million) — 5.27 ERA in 41.0 IP; 0.3 fWAR
• Tomoyuki Sugano (1 year @ $5.1 million) — 4.80 ERA in 84.1 IP; 0.4 fWAR

Clearly, fWAR doesn’t indicate everything these players have contributed. For example, Sugano’s role as a reliable pitcher and Castro’s versatility is something the numbers simply cannot reflect. But none of these signings has been a wash.

While the pitching numbers are dismal, the Rockies needed pitchers, and getting pitchers to sign in Colorado is no easy feat. Do the Rockies want better pitchers? Yes. But the group they have now has allowed the Rockies to be more competitive than they were in 2025.

Trades and acquisitions

• Brennan Bernadino (LHP Boston Red Sox) for Braiden Ward (OF) — 3.05 ERA in 38.1 IP; 0.6 fWAR
• Jake McCarthy (OF Arizona Diamondbacks) for Josh Grosz (RHP) — .301/.344/.507; 1.4 fWAR
• T.J. Rumfield (1B New York Yankees) for Angel Chivilli (RHP) — .298/.382/.479; 1.7 fWAR
• Edourard Julien (UTIL) and Pierson Ohl (RHP Minnesota Twins) for Jake Kaminska (RHP) and cash — .222/.332/.307; -0.9 fWAR

The first three trades have done very well for the Rockies in terms of on-field production. Bernardino and McCarthy are likely trade candidates (especially the former). TJ Rumfield looks to be a cornerstone of the franchise going forward, a fact underscored by his inclusion in Rookie of the Year conversations. The Rockies have desperately needed a true first baseman since CJ Cron, and Rumfield has delivered on that front.

Julien, however, has not been as productive as the Rockies would have liked. The numbers indicate one consistent quality: He gets on base. However, that has come at a cost given his defensive numbers (-4 DRS; -3 OAA).

Claims

• Troy Johnson (1B/OF Miami Marlins) — .304/.377/.421; 0.6 fWAR
• RJ Petit (RHP & No. 23 PuRP via Rule 5 Draft) — 60-day IL
• TJ Shook (RHP via MiLB Rule 4 Draft) — 9.53 ERA in 5.2 IP; -0.1 fWAR
• Keegan Thompson (RHP Cincinnati Reds) — ABQ

Adding Johnston was a clear win for the Rockies. He has been a solid offensive presence and provides defensive versatility.

Given Petit’s Tommy John’s surgery, he remains an unknown while Thompson is working in Triple-A Albuquerque.

Notable MiLB signings

• Drew Avans — ABQ
• Valente Bellozo — ABQ
• John Brebbia — Free agent
• Eiberson Castellano — ABQ
• Adam Laskey — ABQ
• Nicky Lopez — Traded to Chicago Cubs
• Vimael Machín — ABQ
• Kyle McCann — ABQ
• Parker Mushinski — ABQ
• Chad Stevens — ABQ
• Brett Sullivan — .220/.260/.381; -0.4 fWAR
• Jordan Romano — 3.64 ERA in 3.2 IP; 0.1 fWAR

The most notable additions here, for now, are Sullivan and Romano. Sullivan is serving the traditional role of the backup catcher and provides leadership in the clubhouse. (He has the added benefit of an occasional appearance out of the Rockies bullpen.) Romano will be a player to watch. If the former All-Star can return to form in the Rockies bullpen, he will prove to be a shrewd pick up.

For me, the grade in this category remains “Incomplete.” We will need to see how these players finish the season and how DePodesta and Byrnes handle the trade deadline before a meaningful evaluation is possible.

Communication

Here it is possible to assign a grade: A.

In embarking on this rebuild, the Rockies understood that clear communication with other teams and fans was essential, and that has happened.

The media no longer writes about the “opaque” Rockies. Instead, they are operating as a typical MLB team. In recent comments to media, both DePodesta and Byrnes have stressed they are in constant communication with other teams about possible trade candidates in addition to considering what those organizations might have that would benefit the Rockies.

Case in point? Here’s video the Rockies dropped on Thursday:

This marks a clear change from previous front offices, and the trade deadline should be an exciting time for Rockies fans.

In terms of improving communication with fans, I am not sure what more this front office could do. DePodesta and Byrnes regularly answer questions from local media, and DePodesta, for example, recently had lunch with the Denver SABR chapter to answer questions. Are they giving away any secrets? No — and who would want them to? But there is a clear sense that DePodesta and Byrnes understand the importance of rebuilding relationships with their community.

The change from previous years borders on startling.

Final thoughts

The initial results from the new Rockies from office are promising. This is a team that is well into its rebuild and is making fundamental changes to improve.

Are the Rockies a good baseball team? No.

Are they an improved baseball team? Absolutely. And in addition to that, this is an entertaining baseball team that gives fans a reason to watch games until the end and to have hope about the future.

The front office’s grade at this point remains an Incomplete, but all indications are that they are making steady improvement.

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Boyhood Phillies fans McGonigle, Trout give Midsummer Classic more local feel originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

DETROIT — The first time Mike Trout played at Citizens Bank Park, he was the best player in baseball.

It was May 13, 2014. Trout was 22, in his third full season with the Angels and finally stepping into the ballpark of the team he grew up following from Millville, New Jersey.

He got the loudest ovation when he dug into the box.

Kevin McGonigle was 9 years old then.

Now he is a month from 22 himself, an All-Star rookie with the Tigers and headed for his first game at the ballpark he grew up visiting as a Phillies fan from Aldan, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County.

McGonigle has taken batting practice at Citizens Bank Park before. That is what he remembers most when people ask if he has ever played there.

He has not.

“I think it’s all gonna hit me once I get to the stadium, and they call my name over the loudspeaker and the national anthem, for sure,” McGonigle said.

Trout and McGonigle grew up in different corners of the region, at different times, watching the same team. Both were boyhood Phillies fans. Both now return as American League All-Stars.

The Delco boy has said that the three-time MVP texted him after he made the All-Star team, the coolest message that he’s received.

Fitting.

Trout, born in Vineland and raised in Millville, is an All-Star again after injuries kept him out of the event for years. He has made three teams since 2019 but has not played in the game since then. This season, he has 18 homers, a .390 on-base percentage and an .863 OPS.

McGonigle, who attended Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill, has made his case quickly. He is batting .283 with an .812 OPS, 60 walks and 56 strikeouts, making him the favorite for American League Rookie of the Year.

He has reached base 162 times this season. Since the first All-Star Game in 1933, only two players age 21 or younger have reached base more before the break, according to Tigers PR: Trout with 170 in 2013 and Al Kaline with 169 in 1955.

On Friday night in Detroit, McGonigle added to that tally by taking the longest-tenured Phillie, Aaron Nola, deep with close to 10 family members in attendance during the Tigers-Phillies series.

“It was unbelievable,” McGonigle said. “I didn’t know if it was gonna go or not, so I sprinted out of the box. But also, it was a big homer in the game, which was nice to help this team. It was a cool moment to be able to share a field with all those guys I grew up watching and competing against.”

Their draft paths came close to the Phillies in different ways.

The Phillies did not have a first-round pick in 2009 after signing Raul Ibanez, a Type A free agent, following their 2008 World Series title. They would have picked 29th. Trout was already gone by then, selected 25th by the Angels.

Fourteen years later, the Phillies took Aidan Miller with the 27th pick in the 2023 draft. McGonigle lasted 10 more picks before Detroit selected him at No. 37, a competitive balance pick.

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, another first-timer, is part of the local group, too, even if an IL stint has changed what his All-Star break looks like.

Kurtz is from Lancaster and grew up a Phillies fan, too. Matt Kirchoff, who coached Kurtz as a freshman at Manheim Township before Kurtz transferred, still lives near the family.

Kirchoff watched Kurtz grow up around Lancaster baseball and still remembers the early signs.

“We knew what we had,” Kirchoff said. “We didn’t know what he was gonna turn out to be, obviously. But we knew we had a really good player.”

Even after transferring and later becoming one of baseball’s top young bats, Kurtz stayed connected. Kirchoff said Kurtz has come back to work out at the high school, take batting practice and support the program.

“To have somebody like Nick that still comes around, that still follows our program, still comes to an occasional workout when he’s at home, that means a lot,” Kirchoff said.

For McGonigle, the area shaped more than his fandom. It shaped how he viewed the game.

“It was all about winning,” McGonigle said. “It wasn’t really about our personal stats or what you did that day. It just all mattered about if we won or not. I think that’s what really helped me get better and get me to where I’m at today.”

His favorite Phillies memory as a fan fits the era.

Chase Utley returned to Citizens Bank Park with the Dodgers in 2016, and McGonigle was there for the ovation.

“That’s my guy,” McGonigle, who carries similar grit, said of his longtime idol.

McGonigle had a harder time picking a cheesesteak spot.

“Dude, there’s a lot of good ones,” McGonigle said, before naming Delco Steaks, Phillips Steaks and Dalessandro’s.

“For me, just convenient that I live in Delco,” he said of Delco Steaks. “They’re a really good cheesesteak.”

For Trout, the connection runs deeper than fandom. Millville is still home. Roy Hallenbeck, Trout’s high school coach at Millville, made that clear.

“He’s never left,” Hallenbeck said. “And I say that as the most complimentary thing.”

Trout’s roots are still visible there. His golf course is being built nearby. Hallenbeck drives past it on his way to work.

“He’s still a hometown kid,” Hallenbeck said. “This is where he’s decided to put down roots, and that means something.”

Hallenbeck knew Trout before he was Trout. He was an assistant under Trout’s father, Jeff, who had coached at Millville. Back then, Mike was “little Mikey” running around the program.

Then little Mikey grew up.

Hallenbeck still remembers how Trout carried himself late in his high school career, when scouts packed games and the draft started to feel real.

“If you didn’t already know who he was, and you just came into our locker room or came to our practice, other than the physical characteristics, you wouldn’t be able to pick out the future first-rounder,” Hallenbeck said. “He didn’t act that way.”

That was the compliment.

Trout had every reason to act differently. He never did.

“He was a killer,” Hallenbeck said. “He knew how good he was, but it was never portrayed in an arrogant way.”

The moment that still gets retold came when Billy Godwin, then East Carolina’s coach, visited to recruit him. Trout had committed to ECU, but the draft was starting to make that path unlikely.

That day, Trout hit what Hallenbeck called a moonshot to center field. The ball got caught in the wind, the center fielder could not make the play and Trout never stopped running.

Inside-the-park homer.

“Once they saw what that number was, they’re all calling their supervisors,” Hallenbeck said of the scouts timing him around the bases.

Godwin watched it and understood.

“That’s the best bleeping high school player I’ve ever seen,” Hallenbeck remembered him saying. “He ain’t coming to East Carolina.”

The program later created an honor around his old No. 1, awarding it to a player each year. Before spring training, Trout would stop in, sign items for charity events, take pictures with that year’s No. 1 and make the kid a temporary celebrity with a retweet.

“He really went out of his way to take care of us,” Hallenbeck said, “and make sure that we had what we needed.”

For Hallenbeck, Trout’s return is not about needing another All-Star appearance to validate anything. But after years of injuries and missed Midsummer Classics, he gets another chance to play in front of a crowd filled with people who know exactly where he came from.

“To be able to play at the Bank, in front of essentially a hometown crowd, I just think would be a full-circle moment,” Hallenbeck said.

McGonigle is at a different point. He is still a rookie, still processing how quickly this has arrived.

“Growing up, I always had the dream of playing major-league baseball,” McGonigle said. “It’s just cool to see all my dreams kind of coming true right now, and I still have a lot of work to do.”

It brings him back to the ballpark he knew first as a fan.

“It’s just really cool that I get to have my first All-Star Game in my hometown,” McGonigle said.

There will be plenty of Phillies in uniform Tuesday night. Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will be part of the Home Run Derby.

And the two boyhood Phillies fans will be back in South Philadelphia and will take the field on the opposite side.

The second 80% of the 2026 MLB amateur draft occurred yesterday afternoon. The Blue Jays made 16 additional picks following the three they had yesterday.

The theme today was cutting deals. The Jays will likely need to come up with extra money to pay Cole Carlon and Will Brick, both of whom were generally expected to be taken higher than they were and might be able to command over slot bonuses. Brick in particular has the leverage of honouring his commitment to Mississippi State and potentially going in the first round three years from now.

As a consequence, Toronto spent rounds 5-10 picking up college players, mostly seniors who lack the leverage of going back to school. They’ll sign for less than their slot values, freeing up the money the Jays need. It’s worth noting that while these players are lesser known, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t talented. You only need to look at Danny Thompson jr., who signed as a fifth year super senior for just $5,000 last year and has already forced is way up to AA with excellent results in his first full pro season, to see how some of these guys might pop.

The other theme is contact. They selected several elite contact hitters. Of course, being later in the draft, getting elite contact came with questions about defensive homes and typically little to no power, but the Blue Jays clearly value pure hitting ability very highly and have for years. When shopping the scratch and dent section of the draft, it makes sense that they’d be willing to accept some other limitations to get their favourite tool.

Here are the selections, in order:

• 5th Round: Nolan Higgins, RHP, Michigan State The big (6’4”, 215lbs) right hander struggled through his first three seasons in East Lansing, but a move to the bullpen produced a hump in results this season. His 5.20 ERA isn’t shiny, but he struck out 62 batters in 45 innings against just 13 walks. His fastball is 93-95, occasionally reaching as high as 98. He pairs it with a quality low-80s curve that he can land in the zone for called strikes, and a two-plane slider with plus spin rates. Lack of a change-up and a history of command issues in the rotation suggest he’s a pure reliever, but he has the stuff to work in that role.
• 6th Round: Gable Mitchell, SS, Iowa Mitchell has been a three year starter at Iowa. He’s walked more than he struck out in his college career, and did the same with wood bats during two summers in the Northwoods League. He doesn’t have a ton of over the fence power (just 5 home runs this past season), but he did hit 15 doubles and 5 triples this last season. Gable is an above average runner and solid defender who profiles as an OBP-based utility infielder.
• 7th Round: Dean West, OF, UCLA Baseball America’s #302 prospect in the draft, West is a plus contact switch hitter who struck out just over 10% of the time in college and in the Cape Cod League, the top wood bat college summer league. At 5’9” and 185lbs, he’s not a power hitter, although he did manage seven home runs this past season, but he’s an above average runner who might work in centre field, can steal a base (27 for 32 in college), and could be an OBP-first table setter type.
• 8th Round: Jake Bennett, C, Dallas Baptist Played two years at the powerhouse San Jacinto Junior College before transferring to Dallas Baptist. Hit 31 home runs in 309 PA after transferring, and has the easy plus raw power to back that up. Bennett’s approach is patient, sometimes crossing over into passive, which lead to a 15% walk rate but a high-ish for a lower conference 20% strikeout rate. He’s notionally a catcher but spent more time at DH in college, and probably plays there and at first as a pro.
• 9th Round: Joey Urban, OF, U Southern Mississippi Urban had something of a breakout senior year at Souther Miss this season, cutting his strikeout rate from 20% to under 14% while increasing his walks and launching 15 home runs and 29 total extra base hits. He played all over the diamond as well.
• 10th Round: Bryce Chance, OF, Mississippi State A three year starter at State, Chance almost never misses pitches inside the zone (95% zone contact this past season). That’s very impressive given the quality of SEC pitching. He also has an approach, having walked more than he struck out in college. That approach comes with almost no over the fence power (14 home runs in nearly 900 college PAs), but he produces his share of doubles. Chance plays all three outfield positions and profiles as a contact oriented utility guy.
• 11th Round: Brayden Martin, 3B, Maryland The most extreme in a draft full of contact profiles. Martin almost never swings (30% this past season) and never misses when he does (a nearly unheard of 96% overall contact rate, 98% inside the zone). On the plus side, that means that with both metal and wood bats he strikes out less than 10% of the time and walks nearly twice that often. On the minus, he’s got just 5 home runs and 30 total extra base hits in 806 college PA and has never hit a homer with a wood bat in almost 400 PA. He’s a 70-grade runner who’s an effective base stealer, but a weak arm might push him to left field as a pro.
• 12th Round: Santi Garcia, LHP, LSU Garcia began in community college before transferring up to Oregon, and then across to LSU as a junior. In his NCAA seasons, he struck out nearly a third of the batters he faced but also walked almost 20%.
• 13th Round: Mathis Nayral, RHP, Kansas Nayral hails from Toulouse, France, and spent a couple of seasons at Cochise College in Douglas, AZ, before transferring to Kansas this season. He struck out 71 against 28 walks in 18 appearances (17 starts) and 69.0 innings.
• 14th Round: Connor Kelley, RHP, UT San Antonio Split his time between the rotation and bullpen this season, striking out 73 against 22 walks in 66.1 innings.
• 15th Round: Oliver de la Torre, RHP, Cal Berkeley Transitioned from a swing man role to the rotation this season, posting a 3.76 ERA while striking out 72 against 23 walks in 81.1 innings.
• 16th Round: Carson Cormier, RHP Illinois State Played at TCU last season but failed to get much playing time, so he transferred down to Illinois State. Worked mostly in the rotation, striking out 74 against just 12 walks in 69.0 innings.
• 17th Round: Landon Waters, RHP, Ole Miss working as a one inning reliever, struck out 25 against 12 walks over 24.0 innings in 2026. Also had a strong showing in the 2026 Northwoods League, with 25 punch outs on just 70 batters faced and only six walks.
• 18th Round: Jake McCoy, LHP, South Carolina McCoy struggled to the tune of a 7.11 ERA during two seasons at USC, but had a huge breakout in the Cape Cod League last summer. He struck out 25 of 54 batters faced, allowing just three walks and 13 hits over 12.1 innings. Scouts viewed him as the best pitcher in the league that summer. McCoy is a little undersized at 6’1” and 185lbs. His fastball sits 93-94 and touches 98, with plus ride up in the zone that’s complemented by a low release point He pairs the fastball with a plus sweeper and a rarely used but potentially average change up. He blew out his elbow before the 2026 season, but at least per Baseball America was viewed as a potential top 5 round pick anyway. That he’s still on the board in the 18th round suggests he’ll be expensive to sign, and he likely represents an insurance plan in case the Jays are able to sign a higher pick for significantly less than expected due to medical or other issues.
• 19th Round: Cole Travers, SS, St. Jon Neumann HS, Florida Perfect Game’s number 32 high school third base prospect, committed to Stetson University. Per PG’s grading system, a potential top 10 round draft pick. As with McCoy, unlikely to sign unless the Jays wind up with an unexpected amount of extra bonus money.
• 20th Round: Eddie Rosado, OF, Holy Ghost Prep School, Pennsylvania Perfect Game’s number 75 high school outfield prospect, committed to St. Joseph’s University. Per PG’s grading system, was regarded as a high end college prospect with some potential to be drafted. Again, I would guess unlikely to sign.